Ohio State insider | All else aside, it comes down to the Michigan game

Wins at Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Michigan State, and the loss at Penn State all aside, it was destined to come down to The Game.

In the polls

The coaches and the Associated Press media voters kept Ohio State No.2 in their polls this week, despite the narrow escape from windy East Lansing. Will the members of the College Football Playoff committee see it the same way and keep the Buckeyes No.2 behind Alabama when their new rankings come out Tuesday night? As for the coaches' poll, the rest of the top five was Clemson, Michigan and Washington. In the AP the top five was Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Clemson and Wisconsin, followed by Washington, Oklahoma and Penn State -- four Big Ten teams in the top eight.

What went right?

When redshirt-freshman Mike Weber runs for 111 yards and a touchdown, and quarterback J.T. Barrett runs for 105, the running game is working. It had to work on an afternoon with winds routinely in the 20s and the temperature in the 30s, with occasional snow. Weber, who popped a season-long 52-yard run, became just the third freshman in school history to top 1,000 yards (1,046), joining Robert Smith (1,126 in 1990) and Maurice Clarett (1,237 in 2002).

Back to the drawing board

It's proven through three games (at Wisconsin, at Penn State, at Michigan State) that the OSU passing game should stay in the hangar when the wind gets into the teens. But as Urban Meyer reiterated, the Buckeyes need the balance a passing game brings to enjoy their prolific attack. The long-range forecast for Ohio Stadium Saturday shows temperatures in the mid-40s and winds 6-9 mph. That's passing weather.

1 vs. 2 in other ways

The Game, version 123, won't be No. 1 vs. No. 2 like 'the game of the century' in 2006 when No. 1 OSU beat No. 2 Michigan 42-39. But in terms of Big Ten stats after 11 games, it will be 1 vs. 2 in several major categories " OSU leads in scoring (averages of 43.8-42.3); Michigan leads in fewest points allowed (10.7-13.0); OSU leads in total offense (493.1-451.1); Michigan leads in total defense (245.6-279.9.).

>> Got a question about the Buckeyes? Ask the Experts!

Up next

In the second year under Jim Harbaugh, Michigan has risen back to elite status. The Wolverines sport Heisman Trophy contender/two-way performer Jabrill Peppers, a wild-card player on both sides of the ball. They lost their starting quarterback Wilton Speight to a shoulder injury at the end of the loss at Iowa two weeks ago, but John O'Korn played through the 20-10 win over Indiana in the snow last week.

This week's challenge

It's find a way to win. Unlike Michigan, which controls its Big Ten East Division fate " it wins and it goes to the league title game next week " Ohio State can triumph over Michigan and still be done with the regular season if Penn State beats Michigan State. But it sure looks as if victory Saturday will assure the Buckeyes a spot in the College Football Playoff final four, no matter what.

Wins at Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Michigan State, and the loss at Penn State all aside, it was destined to come down to The Game.

In the polls

The coaches and the Associated Press media voters kept Ohio State No.2 in their polls this week, despite the narrow escape from windy East Lansing. Will the members of the College Football Playoff committee see it the same way and keep the Buckeyes No.2 behind Alabama when their new rankings come out Tuesday night? As for the coaches' poll, the rest of the top five was Clemson, Michigan and Washington. In the AP the top five was Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Clemson and Wisconsin, followed by Washington, Oklahoma and Penn State -- four Big Ten teams in the top eight.

What went right?

When redshirt-freshman Mike Weber runs for 111 yards and a touchdown, and quarterback J.T. Barrett runs for 105, the running game is working. It had to work on an afternoon with winds routinely in the 20s and the temperature in the 30s, with occasional snow. Weber, who popped a season-long 52-yard run, became just the third freshman in school history to top 1,000 yards (1,046), joining Robert Smith (1,126 in 1990) and Maurice Clarett (1,237 in 2002).

Back to the drawing board

It's proven through three games (at Wisconsin, at Penn State, at Michigan State) that the OSU passing game should stay in the hangar when the wind gets into the teens. But as Urban Meyer reiterated, the Buckeyes need the balance a passing game brings to enjoy their prolific attack. The long-range forecast for Ohio Stadium Saturday shows temperatures in the mid-40s and winds 6-9 mph. That's passing weather.

1 vs. 2 in other ways

The Game, version 123, won't be No. 1 vs. No. 2 like 'the game of the century' in 2006 when No. 1 OSU beat No. 2 Michigan 42-39. But in terms of Big Ten stats after 11 games, it will be 1 vs. 2 in several major categories " OSU leads in scoring (averages of 43.8-42.3); Michigan leads in fewest points allowed (10.7-13.0); OSU leads in total offense (493.1-451.1); Michigan leads in total defense (245.6-279.9.).

>> Got a question about the Buckeyes? Ask the Experts!

Up next

In the second year under Jim Harbaugh, Michigan has risen back to elite status. The Wolverines sport Heisman Trophy contender/two-way performer Jabrill Peppers, a wild-card player on both sides of the ball. They lost their starting quarterback Wilton Speight to a shoulder injury at the end of the loss at Iowa two weeks ago, but John O'Korn played through the 20-10 win over Indiana in the snow last week.

This week's challenge

It's find a way to win. Unlike Michigan, which controls its Big Ten East Division fate " it wins and it goes to the league title game next week " Ohio State can triumph over Michigan and still be done with the regular season if Penn State beats Michigan State. But it sure looks as if victory Saturday will assure the Buckeyes a spot in the College Football Playoff final four, no matter what.

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